SILJ vs VTI
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SILJ or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.6%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SILJ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 138 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +6.45% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | +35.44%Best | +18.17% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +52.27%Best | +23.04% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.88%Best | +12.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 48.0% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.0% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,759Best | $17,734 |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.6% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2012 to Sep 25, 2026 (13.8 years).
SILJ vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 13.8 years both funds cover.
SILJ vs VTI Performance
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SILJ returned +35.44% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, SILJ is up 6.45% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, SILJ compounded at +52.27% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +19.88% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.31% annualized vs +3.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SILJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 48.0% compared with 14.6% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -79.0% for SILJ and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SILJ charges 0.69% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $3 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SILJ currently yields 2.30% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
26.3% of SILJ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings SILJ also owns.
SILJ and VTI share little of their money.
6 positions in common, counted across the 66 positions we hold weights for in SILJ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 138 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,147 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SILJ (97.4% of the fund), and 5 for SILJ that do not appear in VTI (6.5%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
26.3% of SILJ is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SILJ or VTI?
SILJ has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SILJ or VTI?
Over the past year SILJ returned +35.44% vs +18.17% for VTI, so SILJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SILJ annualized +3.38% vs +13.31% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SILJ or VTI?
SILJ has been the more volatile fund at 48.0% annualized versus 14.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SILJ -79.0% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both SILJ and VTI?
SILJ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SILJ and VTI?
26.3% of SILJ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's is in holdings SILJ also owns. They hold 6 positions in common, counted across the 66 positions we hold weights for in SILJ and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, SILJ or VTI?
SILJ yields 2.30% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SILJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SILJ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.